I know you're joking, but I've often wondered if we sold soler panels and electric cars as a way to be an independent alpha male if we wouldn't get more takers ...
Funny but not exactly funny. Why can’t we all just be actively concerned people? Also exert our lives as humans over the fiction of the corporations which are killing us. I know cartoons are meant to amuse and politics are full of gendered nuance (more like sledgehammers) which is why this makes me somewhat uncomfortable. The whole hyper-masculine bit is a little too Fascist no matter who does it .
Realtalk: the massive upsurge in truck and SUV sizes are are about fear.
It's the bunker brutalism of the 1970s (which is what ruined brutalism's reputation, really), but this time vehicles. All these buildings became bunkers because the war generation was _terrified_ of the civil rights movement and 70s crime so every new building for a while there became just a bunker.
That might seem appealing until we flip over the ‘masculine’ coin and see whats on the other, ‘feminine’ side; and then notice the repulsive mess sheltering in the dirt underneath all of *that*
great idea. We need to get the rest of men on board if we want a habitable planet. Totally relate to the biking one. I bike in city traffic regularly. It is at least in downtown Ottawa, the fastest way to get around.
I had this book once, "Meat is for pussies", which tried to label veganism new. How you also can be strong and a ultra-maratjon-runner or weightlifter or whatever and be avegan at the same time. I even had a t-shirt. Wore it a lot and liked it.
Now I'm ashamed of the sexism. I don't think using the machismo staff helps.
On a serious note, I've actually wondered about something similar as a strategy for popularizing cycling but have come to the conclusion that it would just backfire and create/bolster toxicity and gatekeeping around transportational cycling. Which would actually hinder needed bicycle friendly infrastructure changes and ultimately hinder widespread adoption of cycling for functional transit. Because real men don't need protected bikeways and intersections. That sort of thing.
It's true, that attitudes towards climate actions & other forms of responsibility are genderized.
Successfully "masculinizing" climate action might actually work...which is really disturbing, because the idea that in order to be respected, reason and ethics must be wrapped up in a package that is toxic, violent, misogynistic and founded on forming hierarchies for the purpose of picking on others. Which are not attitudes that deserve one square cm more room in any society that wants to call itself civilized.
I think it’s good to openly judge people play-acting manliness with rhetorical jujitsu. E.g.
“Oh, you’re carrying a gun? I could never. I wouldn’t want everyone thinking I was a coward.”
Some might say that’s manipulative, but what if I also believe it’s true. Whenever I see someone with open carry my first reaction is “what an ass” but my second is “what a wimp”.
Since this comic is generating a fair amount of discussion, I thought I would share an excerpt from my blog post about it:
I’ve been wanting to write a comic for a while about how virtually everything is gendered, especially when it comes to political rhetoric. A large swath of the American electorate is, unfortunately, swayed by tough talk — however stupid — and a fear of being perceived as weak or "female." (cont'd)
I want there to be ads for taking the bus, and they're in the style of those tough-guy truck ads, and they have pictures of buses driving around in the mud and it emphasizes how many horsepower it has and how it's the biggest thing on the road.
what if, in doing this, we simply affirm that we have nothing else to offer except their terms and a fight on their ground? Wielding their language rooted in harm and hoping that those few who are won in the manipulation will then use it for a greater good … Sure. What could go wrong? 🙄
Essentially the thesis is that toxic masculinity favours dominance and eschews collaboration & inclusion, so merely redirecting current forms of masculinity towards a better purpose isn't enough. We need collaboration & inclusion to fight climate change.
1, even tho this could play badly with my emasculation kink, I’m aware enough to not do that. 2, to convert Christian nationalists we can promote pollution as Satanic like Marduk’s utterly sincere song “Fistfucking God’s Planet” https://m.soundcloud.com/marduk-music/fistfucking-gods-planet
As a feminist I would say the world is already too much masculine to give it new space. And that would annoy me a lot.
But if it can save the planet (which is a priority) to play with their ego, I am ready to give the men this space as soon as women stay strong and continue to fight for their rights and take some other space that are mainly masculine now: a fair trade 😁
Well, "caring for and protecting your family/tribe/people" should already be considered masculine, I wonder why so many fail at the logical steps towards enviromentalism
Cowboy Who?
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Rockwell Schrock
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •NoctisEqui 🇺🇦🇵🇸🇪🇹
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Solarbird :flag_cascadia:
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Realtalk: the massive upsurge in truck and SUV sizes are are about fear.
It's the bunker brutalism of the 1970s (which is what ruined brutalism's reputation, really), but this time vehicles. All these buildings became bunkers because the war generation was _terrified_ of the civil rights movement and 70s crime so every new building for a while there became just a bunker.
This is the same urge, but it's vehicles.
John Veneklasen
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •@jensorensen,
It's a joke but this is pretty much how I see it.
John Q McDonald
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •David Mitchell :CApride:
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Hugh Ferguson
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Scott Bronson
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Christian Dior Cowbell
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Jon
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •I had this book once, "Meat is for pussies", which tried to label veganism new. How you also can be strong and a ultra-maratjon-runner or weightlifter or whatever and be avegan at the same time. I even had a t-shirt. Wore it a lot and liked it.
Now I'm ashamed of the sexism. I don't think using the machismo staff helps.
Alex Chaffee
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •@Vincarsi
my small suggestion:
rebrand green energy “UNLIMITED POWER” since it isn’t based on limited oil supplies
Emme Ci 🍉
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •John Carlsen
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Wouldn't it be even better to stop using the word "feminine" pajorattively?
Instead, let's call the dumb Bubbas "inadequate".
#feminism #GenderEquality
gazan
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Pineapple 🍍
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Which would actually hinder needed bicycle friendly infrastructure changes and ultimately hinder widespread adoption of cycling for functional transit.
Because real men don't need protected bikeways and intersections.
That sort of thing.
Mattherix
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •glutto
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •jhmblvd
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Republican hopefuls shrug when asked about climate crisis during debate
Maanvi Singh (The Guardian)ReimanSaara
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Interesting idea.
It's true, that attitudes towards climate actions & other forms of responsibility are genderized.
Successfully "masculinizing" climate action might actually work...which is really disturbing, because the idea that in order to be respected, reason and ethics must be wrapped up in a package that is toxic, violent, misogynistic and founded on forming hierarchies for the purpose of picking on others. Which are not attitudes that deserve one square cm more room in any society that wants to call itself civilized.
Che Tibby
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •AJ
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Benjamin
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •I think it’s good to openly judge people play-acting manliness with rhetorical jujitsu. E.g.
“Oh, you’re carrying a gun? I could never. I wouldn’t want everyone thinking I was a coward.”
Some might say that’s manipulative, but what if I also believe it’s true. Whenever I see someone with open carry my first reaction is “what an ass” but my second is “what a wimp”.
Olle Gladsø
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Jo ♀️🐈🐈⬛🛍️👛💅
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •João Costa 💚🌻🇵🇹🇺🇦🇪🇺🇬🇧
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Corporation 9592
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •I think we have a better chance of saving the planet than redefining masculinity.
Just sayin.
Scott D. Strader
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Eva Chaos
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •RowinSpeez
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Jen Sorensen
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Since this comic is generating a fair amount of discussion, I thought I would share an excerpt from my blog post about it:
I’ve been wanting to write a comic for a while about how virtually everything is gendered, especially when it comes to political rhetoric. A large swath of the American electorate is, unfortunately, swayed by tough talk — however stupid — and a fear of being perceived as weak or "female." (cont'd)
Michelle Hughes
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Ms. Uppity
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •nielsTFranck
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Daniel Quinn
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •"Our Changing Climate" did a great bonus video on this topic just a few days ago. It's on Nebula though, so you may not be able to see it: https://nebula.tv/videos/occ-why-ecological-masculinity-isnt-enough/
Essentially the thesis is that toxic masculinity favours dominance and eschews collaboration & inclusion, so merely redirecting current forms of masculinity towards a better purpose isn't enough. We need collaboration & inclusion to fight climate change.
Our Changing Climate — Why "Ecological Masculinity" Isn't Enough
NebulaBoswell
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Juho Mäntysalo
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •PantyhoseWimp
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Fistfucking God's Planet (Remastered)
SoundCloudJen Sorensen
in reply to PantyhoseWimp • • •Senior Rabbit-Hole Explorer
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •chuchudachu
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •As a feminist I would say the world is already too much masculine to give it new space. And that would annoy me a lot.
But if it can save the planet (which is a priority) to play with their ego, I am ready to give the men this space as soon as women stay strong and continue to fight for their rights and take some other space that are mainly masculine now: a fair trade 😁
Björn 🌸 Starkimarm
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •quixote
in reply to Jen Sorensen • • •Or we could brand "feminine" as 'intelligent' and 'effective.'
Which has the advantage of being true.